Date Set for Dîner en Blanc in Philly

Feel like going on a picnic with your friends? How about a picnic with more than 4,000 friends? This could be a reality if you’re one of the lucky people who snag tickets to this year’s Dîner en Blanc — the “dinner in white” — in Philly on August 20.

The annual event, which started in 1998, was the brainchild of Parisian François Pasquier, who returned to Paris after a few years abroad and held a dinner party to reconnect with friends. So many wanted to come that he asked them to convene at the Bois de Boulogne and to dress in white, so they could find each other.

Now, there are close to 40 of these events taking place in North America and Europe. However, the largest and most internationally recognized is in Paris — where the concept was born.

Here’s how the event works. In order to get an invitation to the event you must know a member of the organization. Once you’re invited you’ll receive an email confirming your departure location and Pedestrian Leader. The location of the event won’t be announced until the last minute. Seats are allotted on site in a very specific manner. Once confirmed, the presence of each guest thus becomes essential and mandatory, regardless of weather conditions. Guests are asked to wear white only and to bring a picnic basket, white table cloth, table (between 28”x28” and 32”x32”) and foldable chairs (white).